A federal grand jury has indicted Anthony Belford, 21, for allegedly running a relentless, three-month digital harassment campaign targeting a college student in Georgia. Belford appeared in federal court on June 10, 2026, following an indictment returned on June 3, 2026, that charges him with one count of cyberstalking.

Details of the Case

Federal prosecutors state that between January and March 2025, Belford created a web of fake social media profiles and email accounts to intentionally cause the victim substantial emotional distress. According to court documents, Belford allegedly used these fake accounts to spread false rumors within the victim’s community, claiming the student was racist. Posing as the victim, Belford also reportedly sent derogatory and racist messages to student organizations at the victim’s college.

The harassment extended into deepfake digital abuse. Investigators allege Belford repeatedly posted AI-generated nude images of the student online. He then created separate imposter accounts under the victim’s name to distribute those images further. To maximize the damage to the student’s reputation, Belford allegedly used anonymous accounts on an online message board to actively direct community members to the fabricated information and photos.

Law Enforcement Response

The case has drawn sharp condemnation from federal law enforcement officials regarding the weaponization of emerging technologies. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated, ‘Belford allegedly waged a lengthy online campaign, hiding behind spoofed social media and email accounts to harass, intimidate, and cause substantial distress to his victim with racist messages and AI-generated nude images.’ The Federal Bureau of Investigation is handling the ongoing investigation into Belford’s online activities.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.